197. Behind the Scenes of 10 Years of Industry Research with Allison Russell – Part 2

Jan 15, 2026

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In part 2 of our behind-the-scenes series on the Volunteer Management Progress Report, Tobi Johnson returns with Allison Russell, Assistant Professor of Public & Nonprofit Management at the University of Texas at Dallas, for a powerful conversation on practitioner research and what it can teach us about the volunteer engagement profession.

Allison steps into the interviewer role again as they dig into what the VMPR revealed over a decade of surveying volunteer engagement leaders and how practitioner research can drive real-world improvements in training, leadership, and volunteer program strategy.

You’ll hear what challenges consistently show up year after year, why response rates matter, and how turning research into action is what makes it truly valuable!

Full show notes: 197. Behind the Scenes of 10 Years of Industry Research with Allison Russell – Part 2

Practitioner Research - Episode Highlights

[02:06] - Diving into Volunteer Management Research
[03:51] - Key Themes in Volunteer Management
[05:30] - Challenges in Volunteer Recruitment
[06:49] - Respect and Influence in Volunteer Management
[08:43] - Using Research to Improve Practices
[22:50] - Survey Design and Response Rates
[30:33] - Understanding Research Participation
[33:50] - Advice for Conducting Survey Research
[37:18] - The Importance of Research Follow-Through
[38:49] - Challenges in Volunteer Management Research
[45:12] - Future Directions in Volunteer Research
[50:38] - What's Next for Volunteer Pro

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Thanks for listening to this episode of the Volunteer Nation podcast. If you enjoyed it, please be sure to subscribe, rate, and review so we can reach more people like you who want to improve the impact of their good cause.

For more tips and notes from the show, check us out at TobiJohnson.com. For any comments or questions, email us at WeCare@VolPro.net.